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²¹ For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:21-22)

“An apostate (false teacher) is someone who has the light but not the life, the seed but not the fruit, the written word but not the living word, the truth but not a love for the truth.” Dr. John MacArthur

The Apostle Peter concluded his striking and stirring remarks about false teachers, or apostates, but setting forth a conclusion and two comparisons. Both of these categories should prompt true believers to pause and consider the ultimate end of all false teachers.

To begin with, Peter stated, “For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What did the apostle mean when he used the words “known” and “knowing” to describe the spiritual condition of false teachers? Were they then, and are they now, true believers who have abandoned the faith or are they simply pretenders who never were justified by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone?

Peter’s conclusion regarding the condition of false teachers was that it would have been better (κρείττων; kreitton), superior or greater to never to have known (ἐπιγινώσκω; epiginosko) or to have knowledge of the way of righteousness (ὁδός δικαιοσύνη; odos dikiaosyne) or doing what God requires or what is right. In others words, false teachers have knowledge about God and living righteously, but they give no evidence of repentance and personal, God-given faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

On the contrary, false teachers turn back from the holy commandment (ἅγιος ἐντολή; hagios entole). This is the pure, divine and superior direction solely belonging to and originating from God. This is the gospel message which not only delivers a sinner from the penalty of sin but also from the power of sin. It is a message of not only justification by Jesus Christ but also sanctification by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in each true believer’s life (Romans 3:21-26; Romans 8:1-9).

Peter was saying that false teachers possess a knowledge about Jesus Christ, which could produce true liberty and life. However, when that “head” knowledge is rejected, their ultimate end is deeper corruption by their sin and possibly a greater degree of punishment. Dr. John Walvoord writes that, “Indeed, they would have been better off never to have known the gospel, the way of righteousness, and the sacred (holy) commandment (i.e., the apostolic message) than to have known the truth and have deliberately violated it.”

 Peter then provided two striking comparisons about the behavior of false teachers’ ultimate rejection of the gospel. The first is that of a dog returning to its own vomit. Proverbs 26:11 says, “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”  In the ancient world, Jews did not consider dogs to be household pets but rather mongrels which ran in ravaging packs. Additionally, the apostle mentioned a “sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” This was common knowledge by the Jews.

Dr. Walvoord comments that, “The underlying principle of both is the same: these apostates (whether false teachers, their victims, or both) never were what they seemed to be and returned to what they had been all along. Dogs and pigs can be scrubbed but not kept clean, for it is in their very nature to return to unclean living. Such apostates are in a tighter bondage, they are farther from the truth, and they are deeper in spiritual filth than ever before.”

Dr. Walvvord concludes that, “Believers today do well to heed Peter’s warning against false teachers, to learn how to discern truth for themselves, and to teach it to others. The false teachers will themselves meet destruction and others will be destroyed by them. But Christians can wage spiritual warfare more effectively if they know their spiritual enemies, the techniques that heretics use, and the end result of their deception.”

 What ultimately distinguishes a true believer, and teacher of God, from false teachers? A true believer pursues practical righteousness and holiness in their lives. This pursuit is not in order to attain justification but rather to reflect and demonstrate the justification they already possess by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. True believers in Christ still sin (Romans 7:15-25; I John 1:8-9), but with decreasing frequency and with a hatred of their sin. Ultimately, the true believer in Christ seeks to obey God, based upon God’s love for them and their love for God in grateful response. May this holy obedience to God be said of us and seen in us.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.” (2 Peter 2:20)

One of the evidences of true conversion to Christ, aside from the repentance from one’s sin and faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, is a perseverance in one’s commitment to Christ as Savior and Lord. When an individual does not persevere in their faith in Christ, it is a biblical evidence that the faith they professed was not a faith that they truly possessed.

I John 2:19-19 says, ¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” The antichrist’s to which the Apostle John refers are also false teachers.

2 Peter 2:20 contains the phrase “after they have escaped” (ἀποφεύγω; apopheugo). This means to become safe from danger. From what have false teachers presumably escaped? Peter said “the defilements of the world.” Defilements (μίασμα; miasma) means to be tainted or stained by evil. This evil originates from the fallen world.

Dr. John MacArthur writes that, “Defilements” has the idea of putrid or poisonous vapors. Morally, the world gives off a deadly influence. Peter notes that at some point in time, these false teachers and their followers wanted to escape the moral contamination of the world system and sought religion, even Jesus Christ (on their terms, not his;). But these false teachers had never genuinely been converted to Christ. They heard the true gospel and moved toward it, but then rejected the Christ of that gospel.”

Therefore, once they are again entangled in the defilements of the world their spiritual condition will be much worse than before.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “These false teachers apparently professed to be Christians, but their return to their old, sinful way of life showed that their knowledge of Christ and the way of righteousness was only superficial and their escape from the defilements of the world was only temporary.”

False teachers are never truly converted to faith in Christ. They just pretend to be in order to gain a following. Resolve today to not allow false teachers and their teaching to get a foothold into your life.

 

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:19)

I am often times intrigued when I encounter individuals who tout their freedom in sin. Regardless of the ultimate consequences of their actions, they are willing to do whatever it takes for this nebulous concept they have conceived regarding the meaning of freedom.

Freedom (ἐλευθερία; eleutheria) means liberty, or living as we should and not as we please. Unfortunately, for many the meaning of liberty is living as we please and not as we should. This latter meaning for liberty has unfortunately become the philosophy of many believers in Christ.

False teachers promise people freedom. The irony is that these same false teachers are slaves of corruption. A slave (δοῦλος’ doulos) means to be subservient to someone or something. In other words, someone other than yourself controls you. Corruption (φθορά; phthora) means to have soul of which moral corruption and depravity originates.

False teachers are slaves to their own spiritual decay. They cannot promise or provide true freedom because they do not possess it themselves.

Pastor Burk Parsons writes, “The Psalmist declared, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). Why would anyone love the law of God? Why would we love that which constantly tells us what miserable wretches we are, daily points out all our shortcomings, relentlessly reminds us of all our death-deserving sins, and keeps knocking us down to our knees, leaving us crying out for help?”

 “The truth of the matter is that not just anyone loves the law of God but only those who have been set free by our law-giving, law-keeping, and law-liberating Savior. We love the law of God not because we possess some sort of inherent self-inflicting, self-deprecating sadistic disposition toward ourselves, but because, in His electing grace, God set His glorious and enduring love upon us, laid His eternal claim upon us, took hold of us and clutches us in the palm of His strong and steadfast hand, and made us His dutiful bondslaves that we might be free to delight in His law in our inner being (Rom. 7:22–25) and strive to observe all the commands of Christ (Matt. 28:20), who by no means abolished the Law but fulfilled it perfectly in our behalf (Matt. 5:17). His death is our life. His fulfillment is our freedom. His duty is our delight.”

 “Our abundant life of freedom in Christ is not a freedom to do anything we want to do but to have the uninterrupted, Spirit-sustaining power to do what we know we ought to do as the Holy Spirit changes our wants and daily makes all of our God-given duties delightful as we rest in the finished work of Christ (Rom. 8:3–4).”

 Enjoy today a freedom in Christ which is true liberty. For further study, I encourage you to read Romans 6.

Solei deo Gloria!

     

 

 

“For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.” (2 Peter 2:18)

False teachers are rarely silent. I would submit their favorite Bible verse would not be Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” They’re rarely, if ever, silent. They also would rather be exalted among the nations and in the earth.

When false teachers talk, according to the Apostle Peter, they are speaking loud boasts of folly. The word speaking (φθέγγομαι; phthengomai) is a present middle participle. This means that the false teachers are continually and personally speaking. What they say reflects their thinking, feelings and decisions.

What are they speaking? Peter called it loud boasts of folly. Loud boasts (ὑπέρογκος; hyperonkos) means to speak in such a way that makes no sense. In other words, to speak nonsense. The nonsense false teachers speak is folly (ματαιότης; mataiotes) or useless and futile words, empty of content.

False teachers not only speak empty nonsense, but they also entice. To entice (δελεάζω; deleaso) means to lead astray or to lure someone into sin. The enticement in question is the sensual passions of the flesh. This phrase refers to extreme immorality and sinful desires found in the fallen nature of man.

The individuals who false teachers endeavor to entice are those “who are barely escaping from those who live in error.”

Dr. John MacArthur writes that, “The false teachers deceive the weak with high-sounding words that masquerade as scholarship or profound spiritual insight, and even as direct revelation from God. They may contradict the plain historic teachings of Scripture, which in some cases they are not able to explain properly because of their lack of adequate training and divine wisdom (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14). In reality, they say nothing genuinely scholarly, or spiritual, or divine. Nevertheless, in spite of all the empty talk, false teachers entice others to their philosophies by appealing to people on the baser level. Seduction, rather than the winsomeness of truth, is their ploy. They offer people a kind of religion that they can embrace and yet still hold on to their fleshly desires and sensuality. Peter may also be implying that false teachers particularly aim to seduce women through sensual methods. The phrase “barely escaping” is a description not of saved people, but of people who are vulnerable because they have high levels of guilt and anxieties—people with broken marriages, people who are lonely and tired of the consequences of sin and are looking for a new start, even for religion or help from God. The false teachers exploit these kinds of people.”

Once again we witness from the apostle that no good thing comes from a false teacher. Make sure you expend every effort to remove and stay clear of false teachers and false teaching in your life.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^“These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.” (2 Peter 2:17)

As we continue to study the Epistle of 2 Peter, and chapter two in particular, it is not lost on me that Peter continues to attack the character and behavior of false teachers. Some might conclude he is being neither gracious nor kind. Perhaps. Peter, however, is taking no chances that false teacher may become influential within the church. He is sounding a dire warning of which the church should take heed.

One of my favorite authors is Louis L’Amour. He has been called America’s foremost storyteller of the authentic west. He wrote dozens of books, many of which have been made into movies, chronicling the adventures of the brave men and women who settled the American frontier. Several of his stories, e.g. Hondo and The Burning Hills, are set in the desert of the American southwest.

In his novel The Burning Hills L’Amour writes, “In the moonlight even more than by day, the desert is a place of weird and strange beauty. One can live in the desert. There are plants that provide food; there are plants and places that provide water. But if one does not conform to the desert’s pattern, one can die in the desert.”

Peter identified false teachers as being waterless springs. He uses a figure of speech called an oxymoron. It is a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. In the case today’s text, the oxymoron is “waterless springs.” The apparent contradiction here is that a spring is usually not waterless. However, the word for spring (πηγή; pege) can also be defined as a well of water.

Peter was saying that false teachers are like a dry well. There is the promise and hope of refreshment and life sustaining nutrients from their teaching, but unfortunately they are like a dry hole in the ground. One commentary says that, “Barren wells were worse than useless; they promised water in the arid East yet did not deliver on their promise.”

  Peter also called false teachers “mists driven by a storm.” The anticipated refreshment of an early morning or evening mist or fog is unrealized because a whirlwind has driven away the weather pattern of moisture.

What false teachers do have is a reservation from the Lord. Their reservation is the gloom of utter darkness. In other words, hell.

Dr. John Walvoord writes that, “In both cases one would look for some benefit or blessing (a cool drink from the spring; a refreshing shower from the clouds) but in each case he is disappointed. The very nature of hypocrisy is that one does not have what he pretends to have. Once again (cf. 2 Peter 2:1, 3, 9, 12–13) Peter wrote of their coming judgment. The blackest darkness (lit., “blackness” or “gloominess” [zophos; cf. “gloomy” in v. 4] of darkness) is reserved for them (cf. Jude 13). This blackness is presumably hell.”

 Dr. R. C. Sproul explains that, “Just as water sustains physical life, so true spiritual teaching nourishes spiritual life (Proverbs 13:14; John 4:13-15). This is a vivid image in a culture where water was a treasured resource. Like the dry well that only disappoints the thirsty (Jeremiah 14:1-3), the false teachers can only deceived and disappoint.

Take time today to guard your heart against the influence of false teachers and their instruction.

Soli deo Gloria!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

^15” Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.” (2 Peter 2:15-16)  

What does it mean to go astray? The Prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 53:6 that, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The Hebrew word for astray is “tainu” meaning to wander, to err and to literally and/or spiritually stagger. It is a condition which the sinner brings upon themselves.

Within today’s text from 2 Peter, the apostle also used the word astray (πλανάω; planao) meaning to lead astray, to deceive, to cause someone to stray from the truth. Within the context of 2 Peter, the word astray takes on a darker and more ominous tone. False teachers are not only individuals who lead themselves astray from the Word of God but also lead others down the broad road which leads to destruction. These are they who are forsaking (καταλείπω; kataleipo) or abandoning the right way or the correct manner of life before God.

Having forsaken the truth of God’s Word, who, or what, are they following instead? Peter says they have followed the way of life demonstrated by the Prophet Balaam. Who exactly was Balamm? The following information is taken from the Tyndale Bible Dictionary.

Balaam was Beor’s son, a prophet or soothsayer from northern Mesopotamia who was hired by a Moabite king, Balak, to curse the Israelites who had arrived at the Jordan Valley opposite Jericho after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Israel’s defeat of the Amorites (Num. 21:21–25) had instilled fear in the heart of the Moabite king (22:3). Because curses and blessings were considered irrevocable (Gen. 27:34–38), Balak reasoned that if he could hire a prophet to curse the Israelites in the name of their own God, Yahweh, he could easily defeat them in battle and drive them away from his borders. Balak sent messengers to Pethor, where Balaam lived. The town is believed to be located near Haran along the Habur River, a tributary of the Euphrates. Balak offered Balaam an impressive sum to come down and curse the Israelites.

Balaam, however, was warned by the Lord that he should not go to Moab. The king of Moab would not accept Balaam’s refusal and sent his royal messengers back with offers of greater wealth and honor. Balaam revealed an inner lust for wealth and position by returning to the Lord to ask whether he should go. His words to the messengers, however, were very pious: “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God, to do less or more” (Num. 22:18, rsv). Although Balaam would do only what the Lord allowed, he became a prime example of someone who does the right thing for the wrong reason.

 Balak had sent along with his messengers “the fees for divination” (Nm 22:7, rsv), which shows that he considered Balaam a diviner of the type pagan nations commonly used. The Israelites were forbidden by the Lord to consult diviners or practice divination (Deut. 18:10–11). A true prophet would not have even considered the possibility that serving Balak might be right. God’s final permission to let Balaam go, with the stipulation that he say only what God told him, was the Lord’s way of frustrating Balak’s cause and showing God’s care for his chosen people.

 Dr. John MacArthur writes, “Balaam served as an illustration and example of such false prophets. He was an OT compromising prophet for sale to whomever paid him, who preferred wealth and popularity over faithfulness and obedience to God (Num. 22–24). Through a talking donkey, God kept him from cursing Israel (2 Pet. 2:16; cf. Num. 22:21–35).

 Peter’s text parallels Jude 10-11 when it says, “¹⁰ But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. ¹¹ Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.”

In a recent interview in the September 2019 issue of Tabletalk Magazine, Coti W. Hinn, the nephew of prosperity preacher and televangelist Benny Hinn, explains why he left the prosperity gospel movement. In the interview, Hinn explains what he believes are the most significant errors of the prosperity gospel movement.

There are numerous errors, but let me break down four. First, it’s an assault on the sovereignty of God because it teaches people that they can control God with an offering or positive confession. People think they are the puppet master and God is the puppet. Growing up, I viewed Him as a magic genie, thinking that if I asked Him right, I would get whatever I wanted.

Second, it’s an assault on the atonement. Prosperity theology teaches that health, wealth, and happiness are earthly guarantees because of the atonement. The truth is, Jesus took the full wrath of the Father as a substitute for His people. The purpose of the atonement is to provide salvation, not “stuff.”

Third, prosperity theology does not have a biblical theology of suffering. God’s Word has answers regarding trials, sickness, pain, and loss. People need those right answers.

Fourth, prosperity theology twists biblical teaching about wealth and stewardship. Money is not evil, but we all must keep an eternal perspective (Matt. 6:19–24).

False prophets may sound very pious, but inwardly they are seeking to fulfill their lust of the flesh, their lust of the eyes and their pride of life (Gen. 3; Matthew 4; Luke 4; I John 2:15-17). They want big houses, expensive clothes and private jets and they want their listeners and supporters to pay for it. Resolve to not listen to what these false prophets have to say.

Soli deo Gloria!  

   

 

 

^14 “They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!” (2 Peter 2:14)

We live during a time within the church’s history where fellowship with one another is prized above everything else. Including truth.

Do not misunderstand. Fellowship with other believers in Christ is important. It was one of the hallmarks of the early church (Acts 2:42-47). The Apostle John expressed in I John 4 fellowship is having a self-sacrificial love for each other (I John 4:7-11) rooted and grounded in the person and work of Jesus Christ (I John 1:1-4).

However, the church must never forsake biblical truth for the sake of harmony within the church. There will be times when disharmony will occur when truth is at stake because it is in danger of being compromised.

The Apostle Peter used strong language in his epistle when he described the character, or lack thereof, of false teachers or apostates. He did not pull any punches and he did not sugarcoat the situation. False teachers are dangerous when they are within a local church. Why?

In today’s text, continuing the tone begun in 2:1, Peter stated that false teachers “have eyes full of adultery insatiable for sin.” Peter was saying that false teachers continually engage in adulterous relationships. This kind of behavior is insatiable (ἀκατάπαυστος; akatapaustos) or never ceasing or incessant for sin (ἁμαρτία; hamartia) or evil wrongdoing.

They also “entice unsteady souls.” To entice (δελεάζω; deleazo) means to presently and actively lead people astray from the truth of God’s Word. They do this upon unsteady (ἀστήρικτος; asteriktos) people. These are people who change and wave in their views and attitudes. This is usually dependent upon who they are associating.

Additionally, they “have hearts trained in greed.”  The inner soul of false teachers has been trained (γυμνάζω; gymnazo) like an athlete. In the gymnasium of sinfulness, they have been trained by the world, their own sinful natures, and the devil himself to be filled with greed. Greed (πλεονεξία; pleonexia) is avarice, covetousness and exploitation. It is the desire to acquire more and more. For them, greed is good.

The resulting conclusion by Peter is that false teachers are “accursed children.” What could be a more damnable announcement than that?  They are doomed.

There is only one hope for anyone is this accursed condition. That is repentance of sin and personal, God-given faith in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior. Nothing else, and no one else, can save someone from this horrible condition.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

^12 “But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, ¹³ suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.”

 It is probably as good a time as any to define an apostate? An apostate is an individual who once professed faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior but has renounced, defected and deserted their prior profession and confession of faith in Christ. Not only have they deserted their faith in Christ, but they also seek to lead others astray. Especially those within the church.

Peter has already called apostates false prophets and false teachers at the beginning of chapter two. Remember when Peter wrote, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (2 Peter 2:1-3)

 It is at this juncture of Peter’s epistle that he begins specifically describing these false teachers or apostates. His illustrations are graphic and striking.

To begin with, Peter compares false teachers to irrational animals. Irrational (ἄλογος; alogos) means without reason or unable to reason. False teachers lack the capacity to think properly. They are like dumb animals born to be captured or killed, caught and destroyed. Additionally, they are creatures of instinct (φυσικός; physikos) without the desire or inclination to rationally think.

Additionally, they continually blaspheme (βλασφημέω; blasphemo) or specifically slander God and His followers about subjects in which they are ignorant (ἀγνοέω; agnoeo) lacking the capacity to grasp or understanding the things of God (I Corinthians 2:14).

Peter goes on to say that false teachers will be destroyed in their destruction. To be destroyed (φθείρω; phtheiro) is to be corrupted, depraved and ruined. What will destroy them is their own destruction (φθορά; phthora) or moral corruption.

They will suffer wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. To suffer wrong (ἀδικέω; adikeo) means that they will be harmed and injured. This will be because they have earned (μισθός; misthos) suffering as a paycheck or payback for their wrongdoing (ἀδικία; adikia) or unrighteousness before God.

Peter continues his condemnation of apostates by stating that they count it pleasurable to revel in the daytime. The Greek word for pleasure is ἡδονή (hedone) from which we derive our English word hedonist or hedonism. It is doing that which is enjoyable even if it is sinful and wicked. To revel (τρυφή; tryphe) is to carouse and to be self-indulgent.

Finally, Peter calls them “blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.” Blots (σπίλος; spilos) are stains or spots. Our English word “spill” comes from this Greek word. Blemishes (μῶμος; momos) are defects. Both words refer to the apostate’s immorality and ungodliness. As such, false teachers continually indulge themselves in their deceptions (ἀπάτη; apate) or lies. They do so while they worship alongside sincere and committed believers in Christ.

Peter’s reference to false teachers being slots and blemishes parallels what Jude says about them in his epistle. Jude writes, “¹² These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; ¹³ wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.”

Dr. John Walvoord writes that, “The false teachers of the first century were like brute beasts. They operated from instinct, which was locked into their sin nature, rather than from rational choice. Creatures of instinct translates the one Greek word physika, “belonging to nature.” They followed their natural desires. Like animals in a jungle, their only value was in being caught and destroyed (cf. Jude 10). This harsh language from Peter is an indication of how serious he considered these heresies to be. Like beasts they too will perish is literally, “in their corruption (phthora) they too shall be corrupted” (phtharēsontai), an interesting play on words (cf. “corrupted” in Eph. 4:22). Corruption here probably means eternal punishment.”

 We must always remember that false teachers are not just outside of the church, but also are within the covenant community of God. We must ever remain on our guard.

Soli deo Gloria!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¹⁰ “…and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, ¹¹ whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.” (2 Peter 2:10-11)

The Lord’s Day of Judgment will come upon not only the rebellious from the past, but also those who rebel against the Lord in the present and the future. This judgment is sure and certain.

The Lord’s judgment will come upon those who Peter describes as the ones who indulge in the lust of defiling passion. To indulge (πορεύομαι; poreuomai) is to continually live or behave in a certain manner. Within the context of 2 Peter 2:10, the behavior is the lust (ἐπιθυμία; epithymia) or evil desire of defiling passion (μιασμός; miasmos). Defiling passion is impurity, evil desire and sinful contamination.

These are also people who despise authority. To despise (καταφρονέω; kataphroneo) means to scorn or to look down on something or someone. Authority (κυριότης; kyriotes) refers to lordship, ruling power or dominion. While this may refer to human authority or government, ultimately the fallen world despises God’s authority.

Peter describes these people as bold (τολμητής; tolmetes) or daring along with being willful (αὐθάδης; authades), stubborn and arrogant. The apostle continues to say that these rebellious sinners do not tremble as they blaspheme or speak against the glorious ones or the glory of God. Peter contrasts these arrogant pretenders with angels when Peter says, “Whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.”  

Jude 8-9 parallels 2 Peter when it says, “Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. ⁹ But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was

disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Dr. John MacArthur writes that, “Unlike false teachers who are defiant toward higher powers, the holy angels so revere their Lord that they will not speak insults against any authority. Even the archangel Michael, recognizing the great presence and power of Satan, refused to speak evil of him but called on the Lord to do so. No believer should be so boldly foolish as to mock or command the power of supernatural demons, especially Satan.”

These verses make me pause as to how blasphemous and rebellious I was prior to my conversion to Christ. However, today’s text also makes me take stock of how sin may be crouching at my door seeking to entice me to sin. May we all be on our guard.

Soli deo Gloria!